Well-Validated Tools for Developmental Screening

Recommended Tools

The use of widely used, well-validated developmental screening tools are recommended for primary care, such as the ASQ-3 and PEDS for general developmental screening and the M-CHAT for autism specific screening. 15

These tools were chosen for their relatively high sensitivity/specificity for identifying children with developmental delays, and their relatively low cost and ease of use and scoring.

These tools are parent-report questionnaires. Research has shown parents to be reliable reporters of their child’s development. This format is ideal for use in busy pediatric settings. 16

Note: Screening that indicates a concern is not diagnostic. For example, failure on the M-CHAT screening does not indicate the presence of autism. Atypical screening results require referral for further assessment.